John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for facilitating me. I welcome the Minister to the Seanad Chamber. I am absolutely delighted for him.I wish him all the best in his new role. The increased costs to business is a topic that is raised with us daily by people in the sectors involved. Obviously, we as a Government are doing a lot and I know the Minister is committed to doing more. The increased cost of business grant is being administered by local authorities but, to my knowledge, the take-up has not yet been sufficient. There may be an exercise to be done on promoting it because €0.25 billion has been allocated to the scheme for small businesses to get the equivalent of 50% of their rates back as a grant in a cash support. A key part of that scheme was that it would not be an offset in rates but rather a cash injection into businesses. That was critical.

There will be debates between now and the next budget on the VAT rate. I am on record in my support for a different VAT rate in the tourism and hospitality sector. I hope that is being considered by the officials. I know 9% is being floated and it has been the rate previously but there might be another rate that could be looked at to ensure that small businesses are able to compete in the environment of ever-increasing costs.

The Government is committed to examining employers’ PRSI. To borrow a phrase from a larger retailer, every little bit will help here when it comes to support for small businesses. No one in the sector is saying the changes that have been introduced are the wrong decisions. No one is saying that but a lot has come at businesses at the same time. That is something we need to be cognisant of as a Government in our response in the coming months. I know the Minister is committed to that.

Finally, we order the business in this House to talk about topics which are important to various sectors. I have asked for debates on many issues. This is a critically important matter. We see exactly what the opposition thinks of small businesses. There is nobody in the Chamber here for a debate on such an important issue. I think that is shameful. That is what they think of small businesses. The Minister is here and we are here to debate these issues and they could not be bothered to turn up.